Vincent Yellow Jackets have officially released their football schedule for the 2026 season, which includes significant changes due to a regional shakeup. This year, the Jackets will face a largely uncharted lineup, featuring eight new opponents, including seven from their newly assigned region.
The non-region competition will continue with Winterboro and B.B. Comer, while Tarrant joins the mix. The Jackets” regional opponents in Class 2A, Region 6 will consist of Pleasant Valley, Walter Wellborn, Ohatchee, West End, Gaston, Piedmont, and Saks.
The adjustments to the regions stem from the AHSAA decision to separate public and private schools for regional and postseason contests. Previously, the Jackets faced Tuscaloosa Academy in Class 2A, Region 5 over the last two years, but this restructuring has resulted in a broader range of competition.
Vincent will kick off the 2026 season on August 21 against Winterboro, marking their eighth consecutive meeting in non-region play. After a hard-fought 19-6 victory in 2024, the Jackets fell to Winterboro in 2025, losing 18-8 to a team that finished the season with an 8-2 record in 1A and was ranked in the top ten.
On August 28, Vincent will visit B.B. Comer, a team they faced in Week 2 for the last two seasons. After enduring five consecutive losses to the Tigers as region rivals, the Jackets turned the tide with a 21-18 victory in 2024 followed by a 37-18 win at home in 2025. The Tigers, who moved back down to Class 2A during the recent reclassification, will now compete in Region 4.
Region play for the Jackets will commence on September 4 with a home matchup against Pleasant Valley. Last season, the Raiders posted a strong 10-2 record, with their only defeats coming from teams that also bested Vincent. This meeting will be their first since 2017, where Pleasant Valley leads the series 5-1.
Vincent”s road trip to face the Walter Wellborn Panthers follows on September 11. The Panthers, dropping from Class 3A, finished last season at 5-5 and made the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in their region. The Jackets will seek their first victory against Walter Wellborn, who currently leads the all-time series 4-0.
The Jackets will then visit Ohatchee on September 18, another team moving down from Class 3A, after finishing 2025 with a 3-7 record. The Jackets hold a narrow 4-3 lead in the all-time series against Ohatchee.
Vincent scheduled a bye week for September 25, returning to action on October 2 against the West End Patriots. The Patriots endured a tough season, finishing 2-8 with wins against teams outside of Region 6. Both teams previously shared a region in 2002 and 2003, with West End winning both encounters.
On October 9, the Jackets will host Gaston, a team that struggled through a 1-9 season last year in Class 2A, Region 7, losing all matches following their opening win. The following week, on October 16, Vincent faces a significant challenge against the Piedmont Bulldogs, a formidable opponent making their first visit since 1943.
Piedmont has consistently excelled in recent years, amassing over ten victories in 17 of the last 19 seasons and securing back-to-back Region 6 championships. The Jackets will conclude their regional schedule against the Saks Wildcats on October 23, with this matchup being the inaugural meeting between the two schools.
The regular season will wrap up on October 29 with a contest against the Tarrant Wildcats, a team the Jackets have not faced since 1948. The Wildcats also struggled last season, finishing 1-9 in Class 4A.
